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A CHILD OF THE PEOPLE 



Where lies the charm of running water? In the 



play of light and movement certainly, but chiefly, 



I think, in sound. The loveliest, sweetest sound : 



in all Nature is the tinkling of a little stream. Only 



two musical instruments besides can give you this. -* " ^^ 



One there is — and you must guess it ; and another — 9 



and that other the throat of the starling. It is at 



sunrise and at sunset that the starling chiefly sings. 



Even on the chimney-pots of grimy, grim old 



London he will sit and sing for all you cannot hear 



him. Only you know by his ruffled feathers and 



tremulous wings that he is singing the song of the 



rippling water. 



And in London, too, the water sings its song. 



Under the iron streets the water comes, and 

 through miles of leaden pipes and hidden windings, 

 but always saying over to itself, it cannot so forget 

 it, the music taught it of the streams, till at last it 



? 



